After moving up and down between the Boston Bruins and AHL Providence towards the end of the season, Mason Lohrei made the most of his opportunity in Game 4 against the Toronto Maple Leafs to help the Bruins take a 3-1 lead.

A rookie amongst the Boston Bruins’ veteran defensive corps, Mason Lohrei is looked at as a bigger asset for the future than the present. Entering the 2024 Stanley Cup playoffs, the 23-year-old defenseman was arguably the eighth out of eight on Boston’s depth chart.

Rejoining the roster after another stint with AHL Providence, Lohrei was just excited to be back in the NHL for a playoff run, even if he wasn’t expected to play anytime soon.

“It’s just that ‘next man up’ mentality,” Lohrei told The Hockey News on April 19. “It’s a team and I’ve been in this position before, so it’s just stay ready and if my name’s called, I go out there and do what I can to help the group. It’s an exciting time of year. I’m fortunate to be up here for it, and I’m really excited to be a part of it.”

As it would turn out, Lohrei would have his name called sooner than most anticipated. Andrew Peeke got injured in Game 2 of Boston’s first round series against the Toronto Maple Leafs, and coach Jim Montgomery made lineup changes ahead of Game 3. As the series shifted to Toronto tied 1-1, Lohrei was placed on the top pair alongside Charlie McAvoy.

Lohrei had last played in Boston’s 3-0 win against the Nashville Predators on April 2 before he was sent back down to Providence on April 12. He had two assists against the Utica Comets that night, and he played three more games in the AHL before returning to the playoff roster.

The reassignment was all about getting Lohrei playing time before the postseason in case the Bruins needed to turn to him. He told The Hockey News he focused on “moving the puck quickly in the [defensive] zone, closing plays [and] being strong.”

Back in the lineup for Game 3, things didn’t go as smooth in his playoff debut. He committed two penalties, but Boston still walked away with a 4-2 win. However, Game 4 is where Lohrei really made his mark.

With the score tied 0-0 late in the first period, Boston was working the forecheck in Toronto’s zone. James van Riemsdyk poked the puck out from along the end boards, and it rolled up to Maple Leafs forward Ryan Reaves along the right wall. Lohrei made a perfectly timed pinch, disrupting Reaves’ pass attempt. The puck fell to van Riemsdyk with plenty of space, and the 35-year-old forward snapped a 21-game goal drought to give the Bruins a 1-0 lead.

“We were just trying to fill in good spots on our forecheck as far as how we’re trying to support the puck and how we’re trying to be aggressive,” van Riemsdyk told reporters in Toronto. “So I think that was really textbook with how we executed that as we kind of stalled pucks and popped it loose, and obviously [Lohrei] made a great play to keep the puck alive for us in the offensive zone, and we obviously filled in our spots and was able to get a clean look on net.”

Lohrei earned the assist to record his first NHL playoff point, and the Bruins went on to win 3-1 to take a commanding 3-1 lead in the series. High-impact plays like that are exactly what will keep Lohrei in the lineup, and with his help, the Bruins are in prime position to advance to the second round as the series heads back to Boston for Game 5 on Tuesday.

Bruins captain Brad Marchand, who had a goal and an assist in Game 4, talked about being more grateful for playoff opportunities the later it gets into his career. Seeing Lohrei and fellow rookie Johnny Beecher experience the Stanley Cup playoffs for the first time – and actively contributing to wins – takes him back to his early career experiences, which only adds to his excitement.

“It’s an exciting time of year, and [Lohrei] has come in and played unbelievable for us,” Marchand told reporters in Toronto. “He’s made a lot of really good plays. He’s jumping up in the play. He’s battling hard. He’s making strong plays defensively, so it’s great to see.”

Mason Lohrei is a key piece of the Bruins’ future, but he’s quickly entrenched himself as an important part of the ‘present’ as well.

Other Links:

Bruins Captain Steps Up, Earns 2-1 Series Lead Against Toronto

Bruins Forward Breaks Down Key Matchup Point Against Maple Leafs

‘Dream Come True’: Jeremy Swayman Shines In First Series Start